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The Politically Incorrect Science Fair
Carl Bialik from the WSJ writes "Science fairs have reached new levels of intensity, and students are turning to trendy topics like stem-cell research and intelligent design to get a leg up, the Wall Street Journal reports. 'Serene Chen says she might not be at Harvard now were it not for her application essay, which described her fetal-stem-cell research on the characteristics of Down syndrome. "If you say you studied something like 'random molecule,' it's obscure, but when you say 'stem cells,' people really perk up," says Ms. Chen, 20, now a sophomore. ... Of a 2002 project involving marijuana muffins for pain management in Santa Cruz, Calif., Mission Hill Middle School science teacher Sherri Kilkenny says, "It got all this attention, but it was very average at best." '"
I'd bet that most high-school students were more interested in getting laid than working on stem-cell research. And why the hell aren't U.S. high-school college advisors telling students that they need to be doing post-graduate level research if they want to get into the top schools? Oh, but God forbid that U.S. high-schools cut back on athletics and put the money and energy into cultivating intellectuals.
From TFA: "And some say latching on to a controversial topic is a cheap way to get buzz. Of a 2002 project involving marijuana muffins..."
Hmm... using "marijuana muffins" to get a cheap buzz?
Now there's a novel idea...
"PS Politicization isn't a word, but I'm not sure there's a better term."
"Dumbing-down"?
Looks like Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has a secret love child. Checkout the picture of Sergio-Francis Zenisek midway down the article.
Does God treat us as servants or friends? Check my homepage.
Step right up, folks! We'll answer the question that's been plaguing scientists for ages: Can hamsters fly planes?